Valley Forge National Park

Service Description

When Washington’s army came limping into Valley Forge in December 1777, the army and its commander-in-chief faced seemingly insurmountable challenges. The British now occupied both nearby Philadelphia and New York; catastrophic dysfunction in the supply chain left the army stranded without food, clothing, shoes, blankets, and other necessities for the winter; and Washington’s leadership of the armed forces was hanging by a thread. With the war not going nearly as well for the colonies as had been hoped, and the loss of Philadelphia having forced a very displeased Continental Congress to relocate westward to York, Pennsylvania, the congress was running out of patience with Washington’s conduct of the war and with Washington himself. Aided by several discontented generals, members of congress contrived to discredit Washington and relieve him of his command. And yet, when those troops marched out of Valley Forge the following June, they were in better shape, better trained, and readier to take on the most elite troops of the mightiest army in the world than they had ever been, and Washington himself was in command of the war effort as never before. How did all that happen? Travel with your expert tour guide through the grounds and sites of Valley Forge and find out! You will go inside the house that served as Washington’s home and headquarters, see replicas of the log huts that were constructed to house the soldiers during the winter, and hear the tales of such colorful characters as Henry Knox, the Boston bookseller and self-taught military enthusiast who became the top artillery commander in the Continental Army, and Baron von Steuben, the portly Prussian general who, despite knowing no English but swear words—which he used profusely—wrote the first U.S. Army drill manual and transformed Washington's motley collection of disparate regiments following different procedures into a unified fighting force. We can pick your party up at your hotel, or at another location of your choosing within the Philadelphia area. Travel time of up to 2 hours included in duration. Now’s your chance to hear the WHOLE story of Valley Forge. We promise you’ll be amazed! Duration includes travel time, up to 2 hours.